What does a Manhattan taste like?
A Manhattan tastes rich, strong and a little sweet: spicy rye or caramel bourbon smoothed out by sweet vermouth, with warm baking spice from bitters and a cherry at the bottom.
Manhattan
whiskey, vermouth, dark cherry
A Manhattan is whiskey, sweet vermouth and a couple of dashes of Angostura bitters, stirred cold and served up with a cherry. Sweet vermouth is a red wine flavored with herbs and spices, and it gives the drink a plummy, slightly bitter roundness. With rye, it's spicy and dry around the edges. With bourbon, it's softer, with more caramel and vanilla. It's almost all booze, so it's silky, warming and best sipped slowly while it's still ice cold.
Where you’ll see it
On classic cocktail lists, served up in a coupe or martini glass with a brandied or Luxardo cherry, sometimes on the rocks. A 'perfect' Manhattan splits sweet and dry vermouth. A Rob Roy is the Scotch version.
Order it if you like whiskey and want something strong, silky and a little sweet.
Quick questions
- Is a Manhattan strong?
- Yes. It's whiskey and vermouth with no mixer, so it's as strong as a martini or an old fashioned.
- Is a Manhattan sweet?
- A bit. The sweet vermouth rounds off the whiskey, but it tastes more rich and spicy than sugary.